Chapter 3
That was all he needed to say. But Wendy wanted to say that he didn't need to make a deal to get it out of her. She would have told him regardless.
Wendy had heard more about the Dark One over the years. She heard of the evil he committed and the deals he made with people. And she knew it never ended well.
"I need some air. Can we go on deck?"
The salty air was refreshing. This wasn't the first pirate ship Wendy had been on and she knew her way around.
Killian kept an eye on her. It was a curious thing how that determined young thing, had grown into such a fighter. She could even be a pirate, Killian thought. The sun was setting and Wendy was leaning off the side of the ship watching sun collide with ocean.
She felt his presence before he made himself known.
"I would've told you anything you wanted to know, Killian. This abduction wasn't necessary."
"Don't tell me you didn't miss the ol' Jolly Roger," a smirk crept across his face.
Wendy could only manage a laugh.
"The Dark One has fallen in love." She said dryly.
Wendy waited for a reaction. But she didn't get one.
"I've heard whispers of a woman. They say she was the most beautiful in her kingdom. He stole her away from her family in a deal. She spent more time than anyone with Rumpelstiltskin. If there's a weapon that could kill him, I think she may know where to find it."
Wendy let that sink in. But Killian didn't know what to think of it. He knew there was a weapon that could kill him, but he was still trying to find it. Who was the woman?
Rumpelstiltskin was a heartless demon; he was not capable of love. He was a demon that killed his own wife. How could someone love that?
"This woman, where is she now?" His eyes hardened.
"The stories I have heard…some say she is still with him, while others believe he let her go. But she never returned home. No one has seen her since he took her. I think-"
"What?"
"I think the Queen, Regina, found her. She is always looking for something to use against Rumpelstiltskin. If he let her go, then I think, somehow, the Queen got her before she could return to her kingdom. I think she is holding her hostage so she can use her as an advantage."
"Do you know her name?"
"Belle."
"How did you come to know all of this?" Killian was perplexed.
"If you blend in and stay quiet, you hear and see a lot of things, people confide in you, trust you."
He was surprised. And Killian didn't get surprised very often. He had heard rumors of this mysterious weapon and because of Wendy, he had another lead. He just needed to find this Belle.
"You've certainly changed your colors, love. First you were with Peter, and now you're helping me. Why?"
"Let's just say, I've seen a lot since I've been here. I know whose side I'm on now."
The sun had long set. But Wendy could not pull herself away from the night sky. It was mesmerizing. The second star to the right caught her eye, and a flood of memories came rushing back.
She had to look away.
"When Peter brought me here, I had my life figured out, even at thirteen. I wanted to grow up, and have a family and have kids. I wanted a house, and to be a wife. I wanted a lot of things." Wendy rambled. Not even sure if Hook was even still next to her or even listening.
He was.
"I wanted so many things, and…I don't know if I want them anymore. It's too late for me to go home now. I've seen too much of this world to go back to London and pretend like it doesn't exist. I want to see more, I want this…" She gestured to the open ocean sprawled out before them.
She turned to him. His blue eyes illuminated in the moonlight.
"Let me help you, Hook. I can help you find this weapon and finally kill Rumpelstiltskin. You've seen me fight. You know I can do it."
"You don't know how powerful he is, he'll kill you with a wave of his hand."
"I don't care, I can try. I can distract him and you can take him down. You can't tell me what to do."
"You forget, lass, that I am captain of the ship you're standing on. I can tell you what to do, and you'll listen."
Wendy sighed, defeated. But she wasn't giving up.
Storybrooke- NOW
Killian and Cora weren't well received in Storybrooke. But that wasn't a surprise. The look on Emma's face would not be easy to forget. But revenge was still clouding his mind.
Wendy was plagued by her memories. It had been weeks since the curse was broken and yet every night she woke crying from the dreams and nightmares of her other life. She was so confused.
She had originally come from this world with no magic. This was her world. But it was different. Time passed differently, and her time spent in the Enchanted Forest was more than the six years she was actually there. Somehow, it was nearly a hundred years later and her family was long dead.
Wendy had been frozen at 19 for the last 28 years and she was tired of it. She was ready to grow up already. And the laws of this world didn't stop her from getting drunk at Granny's. With a little help from Red, Wendy downed beer after beer hiding in the booth in the corner, until the pain from her memories dulled. She was in no way an alcoholic, and after tonight, she swore she'd never drink again.
"Wendy, I think you should go home and get some sleep," Red offered her a ride.
"I'll walk. I'll be fine, I just need some air."
Red let her go without an argument. She knew Wendy was struggling, just like everyone else in town. The cool night air was a welcome sensation on her skin as Wendy walked out of Granny's. But the group of drunken men was not. Since the curse broke, the town had changed in many ways. And this was one of them. Some people just didn't know how to handle it.
"Hey darlin', you comin' to hang out with us?"
"Yea, come on over here with us…"
"Leave me alone," Wendy said through her teeth, trying to make her way through them.
"Aw, don't be like that."
"Get away from me." She warned. Her heart was beating faster, and the adrenaline in her body kicking in. And Wendy couldn't stop herself when her knee came up and knocked the one man down, his hands holding his precious jewels.
That was the Wendy she needed to be. That was the Wendy she truly was.
It was enough to make the other men back off…but it wasn't the only factor.
"Nice to see you still have it in you, love."
She knew that voice. She knew that smirk. Hook.
Wendy had no words. His silver hook reflected the light from the street lamp, and she knew the men that were still surrounding her, saw it.
"The last time I found you in a situation, such as this, you left one bastard dead."
And with that, the men scattered.
"So the rumors are true. You made it to Storybrooke." Wendy tried to stand still, but she felt herself swaying and her surroundings were starting to spin.
Déjà vu.
"It took a little longer than expected, but alas, I am here." He was just as she remembered him. Nothing had changed. Not even his thirst for revenge. Or Wendy's anger toward him for leaving her behind and deserting his crew.
"Did you find what you were looking for, Hook? Was it worth it?" Words came pouring from her mouth.
"I have yet to get my revenge on Rumpelstiltskin, but I will get what I came here for."
Killian studied her. She appeared the same. The same hair, the same young beautiful face, the same dark eyes. Wendy was bundled up in a black pea-coat and a red scarf and hat, with tight black jeans and leather boots. Some things just never changed.
"Of course you will. You're Captain Hook, aren't you? Fueled by revenge for your lost love." Wendy was rambling…and slurring. "I need to go home…"
She turned away from him and tried to walk away but the ground kept moving.
"Have you been drinking, Wendy?" Killian couldn't hide his amusement.
"So what if I have? What's it to you?" Wendy tried to focus her eyes.
Killian put his hands up, a smirk plastered on his face. She turned to walk away again, but his arm in hers made her stop.
"What are you doing?" She tried to pull away from him, but he wouldn't let her. "Let me go…"
"Seeing as you can't walk in a straight line, I thought I'd be a gentleman and escort you home."
His grip was tight. He wasn't going to let her go. And Wendy just got more irritated.
"I am fine on my own." She tugged again.
"Quiet down, lass. Come on, lead the way."
Wendy was done trying to fight him off. She was tired, and drunk and just wanted to go to bed. The alcohol wasn't helping. In fact, it was making her feel worse. All the pain she was feeling was at the back of her throat, burning.
